Abstract: A portable paging system communicates a paging message including a first portion having at least a selective call address (406) and a first activation code (407), and a second portion having a first segment (409) of an audio portion, to a selective call receiver (300). In the portable paging system, an input device (104) prompts an originator to request an extension of the second portion of the paging message, the extension including at least a second segment (410) of the audio portion. Upon receiving an affirmative talk time extension request from the originator, and if extending the second portion of the paging message does not exceed a predetermined number of extension requests or a predetermined total broadcast time allocated for the second portion of the paging message, a paging terminal controller (210) extends the second portion of the paging message.